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April 27, 2015 in Easy Garden DIY· Garden How To

DIY Dirt- Make Your Own Potting Soil

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
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We have a 2′ x 4′ cedar planter box that needs potting soil.

Soon… so that I can get my herb garden going.

Buying bagged soil is going to cost Tom and I a small fortune.  

Over $70 I estimated for just this one box.

And I have several other containers and pots that need to be filled, too.

Even though we spent over $500 to fill our three raised beds with garden soil, this type of soil is just too heavy when growing in pots.

It’s time to make my own potting soil that is both lighter and more airy than garden soil.

Are you in? Want to make your own potting soil and save some serious cash?

The best soil is going to include ingredients like rotted sawdust, cured compost and leaf mold.

Great if you happen to have trash bags filled with rotted leaves that have been decaying for at least two years.

But if you don’t, some substitutions can be made.

A quick example is how anyone can get their hands on some clean sand. Sand works well to increase texture and improve drainage for plants that don’t like to get waterlogged.

Even better is the addition of perlite! Perlite is an ingredient that no good potting soil can live without.

Tom acquired a bag of sawdust from the technology teacher at school, but it’s far from the “rotted” state I need it to be in for my soil mix.

So for now, I’ll have to do the best I can with the best ingredients I can find. 

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Commercial potting soils, the kind you buy already bagged up are made up of some combination of perlite, peat moss and vermiculite.

The problem is that these three ingredients are lacking in nutrients.

Real potting soil, the kind all gardeners made 50 years ago would have included their best garden soil with rotted manure from the barn and leaf mold.

And yet, there’s no perfect formula.

I’ll be adding some manure, humus, sand, wood ash, blood meal, mushroom compost, saw dust and the best leaf mold I can find.

Not completely broken down but it will eventually break down in my planter box.

I can always tweak my soil down the road depending on how my plants do.

Here’s what you need to make your own potting soil:

Peat Moss  (natural & organic soil conditioner that regulates moisture and air around plant roots)  

  • Vermiculite  (Improves water and nutrient holding, prevents soil compaction, neutral pH)

 

  • Compost  (High in organic matter and therefore supports friendly microoganisms)

 

  • Perlite  (Improves drainage & aeration)

 

  • Fertilizer 

 

  • 5-gallon bucket 

 

  • Wheelbarrow to mix in
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Here’s what you might want to add to make your own potting soil:

  • Manure & humus (Loaded in nutrients and helps soil retain water) 

 

  • Mushroom compost (Improves clay & sandy soil) 

 

  • Sand (Lightens soil and improves texture) 

 

  • Wood Ash or lime (Helps improve soil structure & root development, high in calcium. Raises soil pH) 

 

  • Rotted leaves or rotted sawdust (untreated wood only) if you have any on hand

 

  • Blood meal (for nitrogen)

 

  • Bone meal (for phosphorus)

 

  • Kelp Meal (Chock-full of nutrients)

 

  • Topsoil (why not throw in an extra bag if you have it already lying around?)
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Instructions on how to make your own potting soil:

While it’s feasible to use a large pot, I’m going to mix my soil in a wheelbarrow.

Not only is it bigger to mix in, but then I can just wheel it around to where I want to spread my dirt. 

  • Mix one part peat moss, vermiculite and compost. The easiest way is just to grab a bucket and throw one bucket of each part into your mixing container. 

  • Next, I added a half bucket of perlite. Can you even have enough perlite? Nope. Love this stuff for aeration!

  • Add a little water and give it a good stir with a shovel

  • Now it’s time to add a scoop of your fertilizer. Obviously chicken poop would be great right now but I don’t have any so I’ll have to settle for some store bought fertilizer.

  • And because I’m not a perfectionist, I went ahead and added a scoop of wood ash, blood meal and sand. Then I added 1/2 cup of lime.

  • Last, I threw in my manure/humus mixture, the best leaf mold I could scrap up from the garden and some compost, both bagged and natural. I even threw in a handful of sawdust, though not rotted, will break down in the pot. I stumbled across a bag of mushroom compost which I threw in a bucket of as well. 
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What we paid to make our own potting soil:

All these products are relatively cheap in small bags, and since you are adding so many ingredients, you don’t need the larger bags unless you plan on making a ton of soil!

And keep in mind, all the ingredients have several uses so what I don’t use now will get repurposed down the road.

Take the sand, for example, what I don’t use goes right into the kids’ turtle sand box.

The bag of lime I bought will be useful for the next couple of years, a little goes a long way.

So the total price here doesn’t exactly reflect what it cost to fill my boxes, in reality, it costs a lot less. 

Ingredient
Peat Moss
Vermiculite
Compost
Perlite
Mushroom Compost
Blood Meal
Lime
Play Sand
Humus & Manure
Wood Ash
Saw Dust
Leaf Mold
Quantity
3 cubit feet
8 dry quarts
1 cubit foot
8 quarts
40 pounds
3 pounds
6 pounds
.5 cubit foot
.75 cubit feet
endless supply
endless supply
endless supply
Price
$10.97
$4.28
$3.98
$3.82
$3.88
$6.97
$6.48
$2.97
$2.97
free
free
free
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So for $46.32 I made all the soil I needed for my planter and all my pots with plenty of leftover ingredients to use in the future.

If I had just bought the bagged soil, I would have spent more and had zero product for future use. 

The bottom line? I had to triple my own recipe to fill my box. But I prefer making soil in smaller batches.

After thoroughly mixing my dirt and shifting through it, I was so pleased I decided to make my own.

Both the quantity and quality exceeded my expectations, much better and cheaper than the store bought version.

Have you ever made your own potting soil?

118 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJoanna says

    December 4, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Wonderful advice and directions

    Reply
    • Avatarrandy vincent says

      December 5, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      great

      Reply
  2. AvatarJohn Dickson says

    December 4, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    Love this site.

    Reply
  3. AvatarRichard Schott says

    December 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    Great article

    Reply
  4. AvatarChris Civitello says

    December 4, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    I never have made my own potting soil.Intersting!

    Reply
  5. AvatarBelinda Rowden says

    December 4, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    Love your tips and tricks

    Reply
  6. AvatarAudrey says

    December 4, 2020 at 8:32 pm

    Interesting read

    Reply
    • AvatarLaura Watson says

      December 9, 2020 at 5:23 am

      Yes ….VERY interesting. Thank you so much for the tips and tricks😀

      Reply
  7. AvatarJOHN KENNEDY says

    December 4, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    Great advice…now where are all those kids to do their share of the work? (non- computer work that is!)

    Reply
  8. AvatarDiane Warstler says

    December 4, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    So interesting and an idea I will think seriously about trying next spring.

    Reply
  9. AvatarKari Judd says

    December 5, 2020 at 12:59 am

    Amazing Information on DIY Dirt- Make Your Own Potting Soil! Thank You for Sharing!

    Reply
  10. Avatarellen beck says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:32 am

    Great combo! I always have the composting parts- leaf mold and sawdust. People think I am nuts for saving it!

    Reply
  11. AvatarBetsy Pauzauskie says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:39 am

    I like the ideas you presented! I feel happy to have options for manure and chicken/guinea poop available at no cost. And, the guidance you give is invaluable! Thank you.

    Reply
  12. AvatarGT says

    December 5, 2020 at 4:01 am

    I’ve never made my own potting soil. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  13. AvatarLiz Kilcher says

    December 5, 2020 at 10:41 am

    thanks for the great info

    Reply
  14. AvatarDonna Evans says

    December 5, 2020 at 11:26 am

    Thanks for the great tips on making my own potting soil.

    Reply
  15. Avatarcynthia says

    December 5, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    My father had the best garden when I was young.

    Reply
  16. AvatarJanis says

    December 5, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Good info… thank you.

    Reply
  17. AvatarDavid M. says

    December 5, 2020 at 2:48 pm

    Seems like a lot of work, but the results would be nice.

    Reply
  18. AvatarLaura Bethurem says

    December 5, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    I so love these gardening ideas thank you for all the helpful tips.

    Reply
  19. AvatarTeresa Bivings says

    December 5, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    Love the articles

    Reply
  20. AvatarNancy says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    This is the first recipe I have ever seen on making your own potting soil. It is very helpful information.

    Reply
  21. AvatarCandy says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    Very insightful thank you for writing such great and informative articles.

    Reply
  22. AvatarDiane Sabatini says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    I will pass these tips on to a friend who recently ran out and so did the store.

    Reply
  23. Avatartesa shelton says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Interesting article. I’m blessed to live in an area with sandy soil!

    Reply
  24. AvatarAngela Simmons says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    Even after reading this, I’ll buy potting soil. Sourcing and storing components are tough on a 1/3 acre lot in the burbs. Beginning of the season sales and clearance sales make it dirt cheap and easy.

    Reply
  25. AvatarMonica M says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  26. AvatarChad Boyd says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    The soil is the key to growing anything, so thank you for some great tips for creating some awesome soil.

    Reply
  27. AvatarLinda says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    big Tips on that one!

    Reply
  28. Avatarpaula burnham says

    December 5, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    love your blog

    Reply
  29. AvatarToni Schlinsog says

    December 5, 2020 at 4:04 pm

    I have got to try this! It would be a big boost for my new garden!

    Reply
  30. AvatarDebbie Welchert says

    December 5, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    It sounds like a great soil mixture to plant with.

    Reply
  31. AvatarRonnell Storie says

    December 5, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    Thanks for the great tips!

    Reply
  32. AvatarDeeAnn S says

    December 5, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    Love your articles. Always much useful info. Thanks.

    Reply
    • AvatarLaura Watson says

      December 9, 2020 at 5:21 am

      I’ll definitely be using these tips the next time I am getting ready to grow my own garden!🌿

      Reply
  33. AvatarJanet Kellar says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    Very informative article!

    Reply
  34. AvatarMargaret Caudill says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    I definitely need to follow the directions for potting soil

    Reply
  35. AvatarAngella Richards says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    Love this idea!!! Wow will be doing this or at least trying

    Reply
  36. AvatarDonna Yost says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    You have the best tips

    Reply
  37. AvatarLynda Johnson says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    This will definitely come in handy. I live in the Carolinas where the ground is nothing but hard, red clay. Can’t wait to try all of the new thing I have been learning from your articles.

    Reply
  38. AvatarMonica McConnell says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    Great tips thank you

    Reply
  39. AvatarPam W. says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    I will definitely put this to use and make my own potting soil.

    Reply
  40. AvatarKen Ohl says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    very informative thanks for all the information

    Reply
  41. AvatarJon Heil says

    December 5, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Great for the people who like to garden

    Reply
  42. AvatarSarah Bridges says

    December 5, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    I’ve never tried making my own soil, but will now! Soil is so pricey and I can never seem to find the type I’m looking for.

    Reply
  43. AvatarJean F says

    December 5, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    I must confess – I will continue buying bagged potting soil.

    Reply
  44. AvatarTracey Barfield says

    December 5, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    I am going to bookmark these tips. because I know nothing and need all the help I can get so thanks for the tips

    Reply
  45. AvatarMichelle Proper says

    December 5, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Awesome!! Thank you! 🙂

    Reply
  46. Avatarjack slonim says

    December 5, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    A great outdoor project.

    Reply
  47. AvatarPat F says

    December 5, 2020 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you for sharing so much great advice. Will share with Hubs as he plans his garden for late next spring!

    Reply
  48. AvatarChristy Keen says

    December 5, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    No, never made my own potting soil, but thank you for the great info. With the purchase of my new home I now have a huge garden spot, so I will be putting out a huge garden this year.

    Reply
  49. AvatarSharon says

    December 5, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    Super helpful info! I’ve made my own potting soil for years and it really does make a difference!

    Reply
  50. AvatarTony Platz says

    December 5, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    Thanks for the info I will use this .

    Reply
  51. Avatarpaige chandler says

    December 5, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    Hmmmmm. Very informative. I will share this. Especially with my husband.

    Reply
  52. AvatarDeb says

    December 5, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    Good reading

    Reply
  53. Avatarrhonda Hagy miller says

    December 5, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    My husband taught Horticulture so we know all about this!

    Reply
  54. AvatarCathy Cole says

    December 5, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    Thank You for the awesome tips and I will definitely be buying this potting soil for my garden

    Reply
  55. AvatarKathy Derrick says

    December 5, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    I’m an avid gardener and have been buying my potting soil for years. Not anymore. Thanks for the great tips!

    Reply
  56. AvatarJennifer Phillips says

    December 5, 2020 at 10:46 pm

    Great tips! I am so bad when it comes to figuring out or adding the proper nutrients and things to soil. But this will help me a lot.

    Reply
  57. AvatarTina says

    December 5, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    always need good soil

    Reply
  58. Avatarmary rudy says

    December 5, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    Never made my own, interesting

    Reply
  59. AvatarLisa Cress says

    December 5, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    This is excellent! Thank you!

    Reply
  60. AvatarJana S says

    December 6, 2020 at 12:04 am

    i also have large raised beds that I plan on replacing soil next season. thanks for the article.

    Reply
  61. AvatarJennifer Wilson says

    December 6, 2020 at 12:04 am

    Love all your tips and tricks!

    Reply
  62. AvatarMelanie Johnson says

    December 6, 2020 at 12:15 am

    Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  63. Avatarcorey says

    December 6, 2020 at 12:20 am

    thank you

    Reply
  64. AvatarMilly Voskanyan says

    December 6, 2020 at 12:37 am

    I love gardening so much!!

    Reply
  65. AvatarNancy Jachcik says

    December 6, 2020 at 1:24 am

    Wonderful information. Would love to try making my own potting soil

    Reply
  66. AvatarGayle Watkins says

    December 6, 2020 at 1:59 am

    I have made potting soil beforte, but it was certainly not with this precision or thought. Thank you for the info.

    Reply
  67. AvatarJulie Waldron says

    December 6, 2020 at 2:44 am

    I’ve never made my own potting soil but it sounds like it would work great and it’s nice knowing what’s in it.

    Reply
  68. AvatarELAINE PITENIS says

    December 6, 2020 at 3:12 am

    More excellent gardening tips! Thanks!

    Reply
  69. AvatarShelly says

    December 6, 2020 at 5:15 am

    Learned something today!

    Reply
  70. AvatarDale Steele Nicolov says

    December 6, 2020 at 8:46 am

    I have never made my own potting soil.I congratulate you on all your hard work and recycling natural ingredients.

    Reply
  71. Avatarcandy says

    December 6, 2020 at 10:06 am

    I think buying may be easier but good to know!!

    Reply
  72. AvatarPeggy Nunn says

    December 6, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    This is great. I do not like paying for soil and it not be enough to grow good vegetables.

    Reply
  73. AvatarPaula Stafford says

    December 6, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    Gardening is really relaxing. Love it.

    Reply
  74. AvatarMolli Taylor says

    December 6, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    this is great ingo! i didnt know much about potting soil!

    Reply
  75. AvatarKriss K says

    December 6, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    That’s amazing!!

    Reply
  76. AvatarKaren Petrychko says

    December 6, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    Great article thanks

    Reply
  77. AvatarDeanna Barkley says

    December 6, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Very informative.

    Reply
  78. AvatarKimberly M. says

    December 6, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    On top of other expenses having a garden cutting back on soil would be a big savings. I am going to make planter boxes over the winter to occupy some time while we aren’t suppose to be out and about due to the pandemic. Hopefully I can come up with all the ingredients to make my own soil. What a big savings that will be.

    Reply
  79. AvatarShellie Clark says

    December 6, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Awesome info thanks

    Reply
  80. AvatarDominica McCoy says

    December 6, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Never knew the were so many different types of soil.

    Reply
  81. AvatarMelton C McKinney says

    December 6, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    I must come to this site more often for tips on growing from planters.

    Reply
  82. AvatarLiss says

    December 6, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Great information. I’ll keep all of this in mind for the future. I never thought of making this on my own.

    Reply
  83. AvatarChas says

    December 7, 2020 at 2:30 am

    Excellent article!

    Reply
  84. AvatarRena Walter says

    December 7, 2020 at 2:38 am

    Thank you for the information!

    Reply
  85. AvatarKathy Pierce says

    December 7, 2020 at 2:55 am

    I love the idea of making my own potting soil, when spring comes I want to try this!

    Reply
  86. Avatarsandra burns says

    December 7, 2020 at 4:03 am

    That is interesting. Have always purchased at HD or Lowe’s.

    Reply
  87. AvatarCharu Nagarajan says

    December 7, 2020 at 4:33 am

    Got to try it next year

    Reply
  88. AvatarMary Meadows says

    December 7, 2020 at 5:25 am

    Thanks for all the great information!

    Reply
  89. AvatarRobyn Bellefleur says

    December 7, 2020 at 6:59 am

    Thank you for the info. I have plans for my gardens now.

    Reply
  90. AvatarMichael Coovert says

    December 7, 2020 at 11:19 am

    What a great idea. I never really considered making my own.

    Reply
  91. AvatarAnita Kennett says

    December 7, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    So needed this

    Reply
  92. AvatarChristine F. says

    December 7, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    Yes, we have and we even add gypsum because we used to have very heavy hard clay. Compost and rotting leaves have turned it into beautiful loam. Thank you for the ideas.

    Reply
    • AvatarMelinda Barlow says

      December 7, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      We are movng and I will need this come spring.

      Reply
  93. AvatarTERESA DALMAN says

    December 7, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    Such great ideas… thank you

    Reply
  94. AvatarTerry Poage says

    December 7, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    Thanks for the great information. I will bookmark this article.

    Reply
  95. AvatarBrittany Gilley says

    December 7, 2020 at 10:31 pm

    thanks for the wonderful info!

    Reply
  96. AvatarJill H says

    December 8, 2020 at 1:46 am

    I worked at a greenhouse years ago that made their own. Yes you can save lots of money doing your own.

    Reply
  97. AvatarRon Weinberg says

    December 8, 2020 at 3:21 am

    A lot to learn but great information.

    Reply
  98. AvatarJasmine Claxton says

    December 8, 2020 at 6:11 am

    What a clever idea to save money!

    Reply
  99. AvatarJason says

    December 8, 2020 at 6:21 am

    My parents need to know this.

    Reply
  100. AvatarBrian M. Teater says

    December 8, 2020 at 11:15 am

    Thank you for the great advice!

    Reply
  101. AvatarAntoinette M says

    December 8, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  102. AvatarKariLorr says

    December 8, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    I didn’t realize there was a way to make a lighter potting soil. This is very helpful.

    Reply
  103. AvatarAmanda Dobarro says

    December 8, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    I would have loved to have read this article when I was having problems growing in clay. So helpful!

    Reply
  104. AvatarLeela says

    December 9, 2020 at 3:33 am

    This is all great to know.

    Reply
  105. AvatarMichael Villani says

    December 9, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    Love the tips!

    Reply
  106. AvatarLaurie Nykaza says

    December 10, 2020 at 3:07 am

    My mom is dropping everything in my drive way to make soil .Christmas Cactus soil and Orchid too its what i wanted for Christmas to pot up my plant starts. Great information here which i will share in making your own..

    Reply
  107. AvatarPaula S. says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:12 am

    Very interesting! I would have never thought of this in a million years!

    Reply
  108. AvatarCheryl Larimer says

    December 11, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    I have never made my own soil, in fact I have never even considered it. You always have so much great information and make me a better gardener.

    Reply
  109. AvatarBeth B. says

    December 12, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Spring can’t some soon enough and can then try this out!

    Reply
  110. AvatarRose Reeder says

    December 13, 2020 at 11:41 am

    These are great ideas and if we get moved can use

    Reply
  111. AvatarAmber Lee Kolb says

    December 13, 2020 at 7:50 pm

    Great idea, thank you!! I love the idea of making my own soil. Have to try it in the Spring.

    Reply
  112. AvatarDonna Rooney says

    December 13, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    May have to try this. I have had horrible problems with grass growing too. So will try anything for the garden now.

    Reply
  113. AvatarBetty Curran says

    December 14, 2020 at 4:26 am

    I’ve never made my own potting soil but I usually have a need for a small amount.

    Reply
  114. AvatarSusan Marina Brown Lane says

    December 14, 2020 at 4:46 am

    Saving this too, so we can be ready next year!

    Reply

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about laura sproull

about laura sproull

Hi! I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!

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